Display box and method of manufacture

ABSTRACT

A display box for displaying a small product such as a small desk lamp is provided, and a method of making that display box is described and claimed. The box is substantially L-shaped, and includes a base portion, a back portion and a front portion. The front portion and a base portion can define cutouts or recesses which are and adapted to receive respective portions of the product to be displayed in and on the box.

[0001] This invention relates generally to boxes of the sort used to display a product such as a desk lamp, and more particularly concerns a display box which can be created from but a single box blank.

[0002] It is an object of this invention to provide a box which can securely mount and display small desk lamps and like objects.

[0003] It is another object to provide such a box which can be quickly and easily manufactured from but a single blank of box material such as corrugated paper.

[0004] Yet another object is to provide such a box and blank from which it can be easily manufactured and yet which is reliable and rugged in use.

[0005] Other object and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings. Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing a blank from which the novel box is formed.

[0007]FIG. 2 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the reverse side of the blank from which the novel box is formed.

[0008]FIG. 3 is an isometric view showing a first folding step in the formation of the box from the blank.

[0009]FIG. 4 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 3 showing a second folding step in the formation of the box from the blank.

[0010]FIG. 5 is an isometric view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 and showing a third folding step in the formation of the box from the blank.

[0011]FIG. 6 is an isometric view a similar to FIGS. 3,4 and 5 and showing a fourth folding step in the formation of the box from a blank.

[0012]FIG. 7 is an isometric view similar to FIGS. 3-six and showing a fifth folding step in the formation of the box from the blank.

[0013]FIG. 8 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 7 and showing a sixth folding step in the formation of the box from the blank.

[0014]FIG. 9 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 8 and showing a seventh folding step in the formation of the box from the blank.

[0015]FIG. 10 is an isometric view showing the box in its substantially completed, L-shaped configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment and procedure, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to this embodiment or procedure. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0017] Turning first to FIG. 1, there is shown a box blank 20 from which the finished display box will be folded and assembled. This blank 20 can be formed of paper cardboard, pressed paperboard, plastic sheeting or any other material which can be folded and maintained in the shapes described below. Preferably this material is inexpensive to manufacture and to form, and yet is relatively lightweight but does not require any special apparatus to form and fold. In general, this blank 20 can be considered to have a base region 21, a back region 22 and a front region 23. The opposite surface of the blank 20 is shown in FIG. 2.

[0018] To form the novel box from this blank 20, the base portion 21 is first folded into a position substantially perpendicular to the back portion 22, as shown in FIG. 3. Base tab portions 31 and 32 are folded into positions substantially perpendicular to the base portion 22 and substantially perpendicular to portions of the back portion 21, as suggested in FIG. 3.

[0019] As suggested in FIG. 4, the front portion 23 is next folded into a position substantially perpendicular to the back portion 22. Opposed front tab portions 35 and 36 are then folded into positions substantially perpendicular to the base portion 22 and substantially perpendicular to portions of the back portion 23; and are generally aligned with and parallel to the folded opposed base tab portions 31 and 32, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0020] As suggested in FIGS. 2 and 4, back side portions are provided with respective side walls 45 and 46; and 47 and 48. These opposed back side portions 41-48 are folded into U-shaped configurations substantially covering the aligned base tabs 31, 32, and front tabs 35 and 36 as shown especially in FIGS. 5 and 6. Relatively small tabs 41 a and 41 b and 42 a and 42 b can be provided to engage adjacent portions of the box blank to secure the folded opposed back side portions 41 and 42 in their U-shaped folded configurations.

[0021] Next, spine elements 51-55 of the front portion 23 are folded over each other so as to form a substantially enclosed rectilinear three-dimensional front portion of the box 59 as suggested in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.

[0022] Next, wing elements 61 and 62 of the base portion 21 are folded into positions substantially coplanar with the folded opposed back side portions 41, 42 as 41, 42 suggested in FIGS. 8 and 9. When the wing elements 61 and 62 are properly positioned, the base front portion 65 is folded into a position substantially parallel to but spaced apart from a back spine portion 49 of the box.

[0023] The completed, substantially L-shaped display box 20 is shown in FIG. 10. Here the box 20 is provided with a substantially circular cut-out 71 and a fragmentary circular cutout 72. These cutouts 71 and 72 are shaped, sized and adapted to engage and partially enclose portions of a small desk lamp (not shown) which is to be shipped and displayed by the box 20. It will be apparent that cut-outs of other shapes can be provided as desired at other locations so as to accommodate, support and protect other products to be associated with the box 20. 

I claim:
 1. A method of making a display box comprising the steps of providing a planar box blank, the box blank having a base portion, a back portion, and a front portion, folding the base portion into a position substantially perpendicular to the back portion, folding opposed base tab portions into positions substantially perpendicular to the base portion and substantially perpendicular to portions of the back portion, folding the front portion into a position substantially perpendicular to the back portion, folding opposed front tab portions into positions substantially perpendicular to the base portion and substantially perpendicular to portions of the back portion and generally aligned with and parallel to the folded opposed base tab portions, folding opposed back side portions into U-shaped configurations substantially covering the aligned base tabs and front tabs folding spine elements of the front portion so as to form a substantially enclosed rectilinear three-dimensional front portion of the box, folding wing elements of the base portion into positions substantially coplanar with the folded opposed back side portions, and folding a base front portion into a position substantially parallel to but spaced apart from a back spine portion of the box whereby to form a substantially enclosed L-shaped display box.
 2. A method according to claim 1 further including the step of inserting back side tabs into adjacent portions of the box blank to secure the folded opposed back side portions in their folded configurations.
 3. A method according to claim 1 further including the step of engaging the folded wing elements of the base portion with the folded opposed back side portions so as to provide a rigid box base.
 4. A method according to claim 1 further including the step of providing a cut-out in the box base portion to receive a portion of a product to be displayed in and on the box.
 5. A method according to claim 1 further including the step of providing a cut-out in the box front portion to receive a portion of a product to be displayed in and on the box.
 6. A box blank, comprising, in combination, a base portion capable of being configured into a box base formation, a back portion capable of being configured into a back formation, and a front portion capable of being configured into a front formation attached directly to the back portion, the top and back portions forming, with the base portion, a substantially enclosed L-shaped display box.
 7. A box blank according to claim 6 wherein said base portion defines a cutout adapted to receive a portion of a product to be displayed in and on the box.
 8. A box blank according to claim 6 wherein said front portion defines a cutout adapted to receive a portion of a product to be displayed in and on the box.
 9. A box blank according to claim 6 wherein said back includes back side portions; and wherein said base includes base wing portions adapted to fold and engage said back side portions.
 10. A box blank according to claim 9 wherein said back portion includes side portions, and wherein those side portions include tab portions adapted to engage other portions of said box blank so as to retain said side portions in folded configurations. 